SME Times News Bureau | 04 May, 2010
The Maharashtra government has invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against striking Mumbai train drivers and gave them time till 3 p.m. today to return to work.

Around 25 train drivers returned to work after the ESMA was invoked, a railway official said.

And in no time, around 170 striking drivers were arrested from Churchgate and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) stations.

They were accused of obstructing their colleagues from joining work.

The Western Railway and Central Railway have also filed a plea against the strike in the Bombay High Court, the official added.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said he had spoken to Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee.

"We are hoping to find a solution to this problem by evening. We are open to talks with the striking train drivers," he said.

Western Railway spokesman S.S. Gupta said: "The government has invoked ESMA. The decision came after a meeting chaired by the chief minister."